Purchasing management system for the competitiveness of SMEs

Abstract

The State of Mexico leads the country in number of economic units, with 702,577 MSMEs, of which 95.4% are micro-enterprises, 3.6% are small and 0.7% are medium-sized, representing 99.81% of the total number of companies in the state. Forty-four percent of these businesses belong to the commercial sector and 41% to the service sector. In this context, purchasing management has gained relevance in organizations, since it involves coordinating with other departments to acquire the right inputs, at the right time and at the best possible cost, integrating concepts such as demand planning, return on investment, quality and satisfaction of service levels. The efficient procurement of products and services is a complex process that goes beyond simple purchasing, involving the identification, evaluation, negotiation and supervision of suppliers to turn them into strategic allies that boost competitiveness. This research proposes to analyze the key elements to strengthen the relationship with suppliers and improve supply management in SMEs, considering from identification and qualification to performance measurement. For this purpose, a methodology is used that combines the documentary analysis of best practices with the application of surveys to purchasing managers, allowing to obtain quantitative data on the use of systems, selection criteria and results achieved. In this way, we seek to contribute strategies aligned with the reality of Mexican companies, promoting a more efficient and competitive purchasing management.